With Halloween just 10 days away, pet experts recommend Iowans start preparing their dogs and cats now for the sights and sounds of trick-or-treating season. Just as some animals may not like Fourth of July fireworks, Halloween can be a confusing and frightening time for pets, too, says Brittany Bauman. Especially if you’re not used to having a swarm of goblins on your doorstep.
Some pets will jump out the door and run away when they get scared. Therefore, keeping it safe in an enclosed space during evening trick-or-treating may be a wise move.
If you have a costume for your pet and are planning to take your animal trick-or-treating, it’s a good idea not to force it on your pet, Bauman says.
If you have a jack-o-lantern on your doorstep, don’t assume the worst if your dog chews on it, said Bauman, a spokeswoman for the Minnesota-based Humane Society.
Pumpkins can make pets sick, especially if the pumpkin has been left outside for several days and mold has grown on the inside.
